US7564003B2

Detect switch having an improved moveable contact

Summary by NHIP

Multi-terminal detect switch

The detect switch uses a moveable contact with protrusions to insulate specific terminals while connecting others upon depression. Depressing the central portion tilts periphery contact portions upward, isolating the fourth and selected fixed terminals while engaging the first and selected terminals.

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 14, the broadest

Abstract

A detect switch (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a first, a second, a third and a fourth fixed terminals (11, 12, 13, 14), a moveable contact (3) electrically connecting with the third and the fourth fixed terminals, a driving mechanism depressing the moveable contact. The moveable contact has four periphery contact portions (32) each formed with a protrusion (33). One of the protrusions resists against the third fixed terminal in assembly. When the moveable contact is depressed to have a central contact portion (31) thereof contact with the first fixed terminal, the periphery contact portions tilt upwardly to leave away from corresponding fixed terminals for insulating the third and the fourth fixed terminals. The third and first fixed terminals are thereby electrically connected due to an engagement among the moveable contact and themselves.

US7564003B2, drawing sheet 1 — Sheet 1 of 9

Term

Projected expiry 14 January 2028.

20 claims: 3 independent, 17 dependent

1
A detect switch, comprising:an insulative housing defining a cavity therein;a plurality of fixed terminals embedded in the insulative housing, the fixed terminals comprising a first, a fourth and a selected fixed terminals respectively provided with a first contact portion, a fourth contact portion and a selected contact portion exposed in the cavity;a moveable contact formed with at least a pair of periphery contact portions in contact with the fourth contact portion and the selected contact portion to electrically connect the fourth and the selected fixed terminals, each periphery contact portion formed with a protrusion, one of the protrusions resisting against the selected fixed terminal;and a driving mechanism moveably assembled to the insulative housing;wherein when the moveable contact is downwardly depressed by the driving mechanism to have a central contact portion thereof contact with the first contact portion of the first fixed terminal, the periphery contact portions of the moveable contact are urged to tilt upwardly due to a support movement of the protrusions for leaving away from corresponding fixed terminals to thereby insulate the selected fixed terminal and the fourth fixed terminal and electrically connect the first fixed terminal and the selected fixed terminal due to an engagement between the first contact portion and the central contact portion and a resisting movement of corresponding protrusion against the selected fixed terminal.
14
Broadest claimClaim Score 78, broad(NHIP)A detect switch comprising:an insulative housing;first and second fixed contacts retained in the housing;and a deflectable contact located in and movable with regard to the housing, said deflectable contact being located above the first and the second fixed contacts and defining a fulcrum between the first and the second fixed contacts;wherein said deflectable contact is constantly electrically and mechanically engaged with the first fixed contact and disengaged from the second fixed contact during a relaxed status while disengaged from the first fixed contact and engaged with the second fixed contact instead via deflection about said fulcrum when a force is imposed thereon.
19
A detect switch comprising:an insulative housing;first and second fixed contacts retained in the housing;and a deflectable contact located in and movable with regard to the housing, said deflectable contact defining a center region located above the first fixed contact, and a periphery region located above the second fixed contact;wherein said deflectable contact is constantly electrically and mechanically engaged with the first fixed contact and disengaged from the second fixed contact during a relaxed status while disengaged from the first fixed contact and engaged with the second fixed contact instead via deflection about said fulcrum when a force is imposed thereon.

Independent claims3

35 paragraphs in 4 sections, as filed

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00021. Field of the Invention

p-0003The present invention relates to a detect switch, and particularly to a detect switch provided with an electrical member such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) used in various electronic devices.

p-00042. Description of Related Art

p-0005A conventional detect switch provided with a light source is described in WO Patent publication No. 2005/027163 published on Mar. 24, 2005. The detect switch provided with a light source comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of connecting pieces, a central pad, a dome, an operation member moveably retained in the insulative housing, an actuator, a cover attached to a top of the insulative housing, and a sealing sheet interposed between the cover and the insulative housing. The connecting pieces are axially offset relative to each other and define thereon a plurality of conductive regions, which include a plurality of first and second fixed terminals formed thereon. The first fixed terminals are connected to both the light source and the outwardly extending second fixed terminals. The dome has a central contact portion disposed above the central pad and four arms radially extending from the central contact portion. Three of the arms contact with the conductive regions permanently. In operation, when the actuator is pushed downwardly, the central contact portion of the dome is downwardly depressed for contacting with the central pad to thereby establish an electrical connection between the conductive regions via the central pad. When the dome is tilted toward a certain direction, the arms of the dome could be separated from corresponding conductive region, to maintain electrical connection among other conductive regions.

p-0006As described above, in order to selectively contact with corresponding conductive regions, the dome should be silted toward a certain direction. However, it is troublesome to perform the operation of silting the dome. Additionally, it is easy to bring an unnecessary engagement between the arms of the dome and the unselected conductive regions, when the dome is silted toward an inaccurate direction.

p-0007Hence, an improved detect switch is required to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0008A primary object of the present invention is to provide a detect switch formed with a moveable contact contacting with selected fixed terminals easily and accurately.

p-0009To achieve the aforementioned object, a detect switch comprises an insulative housing, a first, a second, a third and a fourth fixed terminals, a moveable contact electrically connect the third and fourth fixed terminals, a driving mechanism downwardly depressing the moveable contact, and an LED electrical connected to the second fixed terminals. The moveable contact has four periphery contact portions each formed with a protrusion. One of the protrusions resists against the third fixed terminal in assembly. When the moveable contact is depressed to have a central contact portion thereof contact with the first fixed terminal, the periphery contact portions tilt upwardly to leave away from corresponding fixed terminals for insulating the third and the fourth fixed terminals. The third and first fixed terminals are thereby electrically connected due to an engagement among the moveable contact and themselves.

p-0010Due to formation and arrangement of the protrusions of the periphery contact portions, the moveable contact could selectively contact with any fixed terminal, under a downward movement of the driving mechanism. It is convenient to drive the moveable contact to deform. Additionally, incorrect operation could be avoided because of the downward movement of the driving mechanism.

p-0011Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is an exploded perspective view of a detect switch in accordance with the present invention;

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view of a plurality of fixed terminals as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a partially perspective view of an insulative housing to which the fixed terminals are assembled;

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an assembled perspective view of the detect switch as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an enlarged view taken within mark C shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>; and

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a view similar to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> but showing the moveable contact in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

p-0020Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a detect switch 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for electrically connecting with an LED 6. In fact, the switch 100 may also be used for other kinds of electrical member in other embodiments. The detect switch 100 comprises an insulative housing 2 defining a cavity 26, a plurality of fixed terminals 1 embedded in the insulative housing 2, a moveable contact 3 retained in the cavity 26 of the insulative housing 2, an operator 4 disposed above the moveable contact 3, a retention portion 5 positioned on the operator 4, an LED 6 located above the retention portion 5, an actuator 9 assembled to the insulative housing 2, a cover 8 attached to a top of the insulative housing 2, and a gasket 7 interposed between the insulative housing 2 and the cover 8.

p-0021Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> in conjunction with <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the insulative housing 2 is a substantially rectangular case, comprising a bottom wall 21, a pair of opposite periphery walls 22 and a pair of opposite side walls 23 raising upwardly from the bottom wall 21 to thereby define the cavity 26 therebetween. Each periphery wall 22 has an engaging slot 221 defined thereon in a top-to-bottom direction. The pair of side walls 23 respectively have a first recess 24 having a semi-curved surface defined in an inner surface thereof and a tuber 231 formed at an outer surface thereof. The cavity 26 has four rectangular second recesses 25 defined at four corners thereof, and a pair of fixing portions 27 respectively surrounding corresponding engaging slots 221. Each fixing portion 27 defines therein an insertion slot 271 communicating with the engaging slot 221.

p-0022Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the plurality of fixed terminals 1 comprises a T-shaped first fixed terminal 11, a second fixed terminal 12, a third fixed terminal 13 and a fourth fixed terminal 14. The first fixed terminal 11 is formed with a body portion 112 extending in a longitudinal direction, a pair of first soldering portions 113 extending lengthwise along an extending direction of the body portion 112. The body portion 112 has a first contact portion 111 protruding perpendicularly from a center portion thereof. The second fixed terminal 12 has a pair of second soldering portions 122 extending parallel to the first soldering portions 113, and a pair of second contact portions 121 raising perpendicularly to inner ends of the second soldering portions 122. The third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth fixed terminal 14 respectively have a third soldering portions 132, a fourth soldering portion 142 extending parallel to the second soldering portions 122, a third contact portions 131 and a fourth contact portion 141 bending obliquely from inner ends of corresponding soldering portions 132, 142.

p-0023Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the dome-like moveable contact 3 comprises a central contact portion 31 and four periphery contact portions 32 symmetrically radially formed around the central contact portion 31. Each periphery contact portion 32 is provided with a protrusion 33 projecting downwardly from a substantially central portion thereof.

p-0024The operator 4 comprises a button 41 having a beveled surface and four projection beams 42 projecting radially from a lower portion of the button 41.

p-0025The retention portion 5 is formed with a body portion 51 having a curved outer surface for corresponding to the first recesses 24, a pair of indentations 53 symmetrically defined thereon, and a pair of engaging portions 52 symmetrically formed at an outer surface of the body portion 51.

p-0026The LED 6 comprises a light source 61 and a pair of substantially Z-shaped cantilevered arms 62 extending downwardly from the light source 61 for insertion into the insertion slots 271 of the insulative housing 2.

p-0027The actuator 9 comprises a cylindrical base portion 92, and an upper portion 91 having a diameter smaller than that of the base portion 92. The base portion 92 has four protrusions 94 symmetrically formed around an outer surface thereof, and four cutouts 93 each defined between a pair of adjacent protrusions 94.

p-0028The cover 8 comprises a top face 80 defining an extension hole 81, a pair of periphery faces 82 extending downwardly from a pair of opposite sides of the top face 80, and a pair of bent portions 83 bent perpendicularly to another pair of opposite sides of the top face 80. Each bent portion 83 has an engaging groove 84 defined thereon for engaging with the tubers 231 of the insulative housing 2.

p-0029The gasket 7 is substantially a rectangular board, comprising a board portion 71 and a circular mounting hole 72 defined therein.

p-0030Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1</figref>, 4, 5, in assembly of the detect switch 100, the plurality of fixed terminals 1 are assembled to the insulative housing 2 by insert molding, with the soldering portions 113, 122, 132, 142 thereof extending outside of the insulative housing 2. The first fixed terminal 1 is disposed in the insulative housing 2, with the body portion 112 thereof embedded in the bottom wall 21 while the first contact portion 111 thereof exposed in the cavity 26. The second fixed terminals 12 are mounted on the insulative housing 2, with the second contact portions 121 thereof exposed in the engaging slots 221 for contacting with the cantilevered arms 62 of the LED 6. As for the third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth fixed terminal 14, the third and the fourth contact portions 131, 141 are accommodated in the second recesses 25 and exposed in the cavity 26.

p-0031The moveable contact 3 is disposed on the bottom wall 21 of the insulative housing 2, with the central contact portion 31 disposed a certain distance above the first contact portion 111. Four periphery contact portions 32 of the moveable contact 3 engage with corresponding second recesses 25. A pair of periphery contact portions 32 respectively contact with the third contact portion 131 of the third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth contact portion 141 of the fourth fixed terminal 14, with corresponding protrusions 33 respectively resisting against the third fixed terminal 13 and the bottom wall 21. Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6-7</figref>, in a normal position, the third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth fixed terminal 14 in contact with the moveable contact 3 simultaneously are therefore electrically connected.

p-0032The operator 4 is received in the cavity 26, with the button 41 thereof positioned above the central contact portion 31, and the projection beams 42 thereof retained in the second recesses 25 and corresponding to the periphery contact portions 32. The retention portion 5 is mounted on the operator 4, with a lower surface of the body portion 51 being resisted against by the button 41, and with the engaging portions 52 engaging with the first recesses 24. The LED 6 is fastened to the insulative housing 2, with the light source 61 thereof exposed above the retention portion 5, and the cantilevered arms 62 thereof extending through the indentations 53 and then being inserted into the insertion recesses 271 for contacting with the second contact portions 121.

p-0033The actuator 9 is fixed on the retention portion 5, with the cutouts 93 thereof engaging with the engaging portions 52. The base portion 92 engages with the first recesses 24, and the protrusions 94 are inserted into the corresponding second recesses 25. The light source 61 is received in the actuator 9. The gasket 7 is interposed between the cover 8 and the insulative housing 2 to ensure a proper sealing therebetween. The periphery faces 82 of the cover 8 are attached to outer surfaces of the periphery walls 22, and the engaging grooves 84 thereof engage with the tubers 231. The actuator 9 extends outwardly through the mounting hole 72 and the extension hole 81 in sequence. The detect switch 100 is assembled as a whole finally.

p-0034In operation, the actuator 9 is downwardly pushed by exerting an external force thereon. The retention portion 5 and therefore the button 41 are urged downwardly for depressing the central contact portion 31 of the moveable contact 3. The moveable contact 3 is then forced to deform and have the central contact portion 31 downwardly depressed for contacting with the first contact portion 111 of the first fixed terminal 11. At the same time, referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, the periphery contact portions 32 of the moveable contact 3 contacting with the third and the fourth fixed terminals 13, 14 in a normal position are urged to tilt upwardly to leave away from corresponding fixed terminals 13, 14, due to a support movement of the protrusions 33. The third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth fixed terminal 14 are insulated from each other. Simultaneously, an electrical connection between the first fixed terminal 11 and the third fixed terminal 13 is established, due to an engagement between the first contact portion 111 and the central contact portion 31, and a resisting movement of corresponding protrusion 33 against the third fixed terminal 13.

p-0035When the external force is removed, the detect switch 100 restores itself to a normal position due to a resilient force from a deformation of the moveable contact 3 and the button 41. The electrical connection between the first fixed terminal 11 and the third fixed terminal 13 is broken, and an electrical connection between the third fixed terminal 13 and the fourth fixed terminal 14 is established again.

p-0036However, the disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.

Contents4

Every citation, both ways

Citations
Document	Relation	Office	Cited during
US8507818B2	Cited by	United States of America	Search report
US2008237020A1	Cited by	United States of America	Pre-grant
US2012228099A1	Cited by	United States of America	Pre-grant
US2010136828A1	Cited by	United States of America	Pre-grant
WO2005027163A1	Cites	World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)	Applicant
US7202429B2	Cites	United States of America	Search report
US7235754B2	Cites	United States of America	Search report
US7279652B2	Cites	United States of America	Search report
US7331805B1	Cites	United States of America	Search report
US7429707B2	Cites	United States of America	Search report

4 priority claims, no other members on record

This recordMember, by publication datePriority claim

Priority claims4

Priority claims
Document	Office	Kind	Date
95212387	Taiwan Province of China	U	2006-07-14
95212387	Taiwan Province of China	U	2006-07-14
95212387U	–	–	–
TW20060212387U	–	–	–

29 transactions on the USPTO file

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2009-07-21	Recordation of Patent Grant MailedPGM/	PGM/
2009-07-21	Patent Issue Date Used in PTA CalculationAllowedPTAC	PTAC
2009-07-01	Issue Notification MailedAllowedWPIR	WPIR
2009-06-18	Dispatch to FDCD1935	D1935
2009-06-18	Application Is Considered Ready for IssuePILS	PILS
2009-06-15	Issue Fee Payment VerifiedN084	N084
2009-06-15	Issue Fee Payment ReceivedIFEE	IFEE
2009-03-17	Mail Notice of AllowanceAllowedMN/=.	MN/=.
2009-03-13	Notice of Allowance Data Verification CompletedAllowedN/=.	N/=.
2008-03-27	PG-Pub Issue NotificationPG-ISSUE	PG-ISSUE
2008-03-07	Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK	DOCK
2008-01-17	IFW TSS Processing by Tech Center CompleteTSSCOMP	TSSCOMP
2008-01-10	Application Dispatched from OIPEOIPE	OIPE
2007-12-18	Sent to Classification ContractorPGPC	PGPC
2007-12-18	Filing ReceiptFLRCPT.O	FLRCPT.O
2007-12-05	Additional Application Filing FeesADDFLFEE	ADDFLFEE
2007-12-05	Mail-Record Petition Decision of Granted Related to Filing DateMP010	MP010
2007-12-05	Record Petition Decision of Granted Related to Filing DateP010	P010
2007-10-11	Petition EnteredPET.	PET.
2007-08-06	Pre-Exam Office Action WithdrawnW/OA	W/OA
2007-08-06	Notice of Incomplete Application - Filing Date Not AssignedINC/	INC/
2007-07-25	Cleared by OIPE CSRL194	L194
2007-07-24	IFW Scan & PACR Auto Security ReviewSCAN	SCAN
2007-07-18	Initial Exam Team nnIEXX	IEXX
2007-07-16	Information Disclosure Statement consideredIDSC	IDSC
2007-07-16	Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledM844	M844
2007-07-16	Request for Foreign Priority (Priority Papers May Be Included)RQPR	RQPR
2007-07-16	Drawing Preliminary AmendmentDRAWING	DRAWING
2007-07-16	Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledWIDS	WIDS

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